Alpine awards construction bid for park on 100 South

(Daily Herald) After a two-hour discussion regarding the proposed park at 100 South, the Alpine City Council awarded a construction bid to Hawker Enterprise. The park, which has stirred some controversy among Alpine residents, was unanimously approved by all members of the City Council.

During the discussion, council members raised concerns over the project, including Councilman Brad Reneer who suggested that building a nearly $1.7 million park during an economic recession seemed "fiscally irresponsible." He suggested not including the $231,405 splash pad and pavilion in current plans, with the possibility of building it at a later time, even if it cost more in the long run. "Save $200,000 now, with that cost 10 years down the road? I think it's worth it," Reneer argued.

Councilman Jim Tracy disagreed with excluding the splash pad. "If you say no to the splash pad, you're telling Alpine residents to go to Highland," Tracy said. Tracy cited the amount of research and discussion that had already taken place regarding all aspects of the park, including visits to parks with splash pads. "I think if we're going to do it, we should do it right," he said.

Funding for the park will come from several areas within the $10 million city budget, including park impact fees, the capital improvement fund and transfers from the water fund. Future park impact fees, received from new residents, will also aid in repaying the money borrowed from such areas as the water fund.

According to city employees, the way state law reads, it requires impact fees to be used within a six-year period. These fees cannot go toward already established parks. "All of this is purely bookkeeping," said Ted Stillman, Alpine city administrator, regarding the diversification in paying for the park out of several budget areas.

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